It is held from Friday September 13 to Sunday September 15 at Urban Camp, Parkville.
Among speakers are Louis Jay Meyers, executive director of Folk Alliance International (US); Una McAlinden, president of Folk Alliance Australia; Bill Hauritz, director of Queensland’s Woodford Folk Festival draws up to 130,000 fans; US music industry consultant Bob Hunka of HunkArts Productions; Mark Watson owner of Canada’s Watson Entertainment; Jill Morgan AM, CEO of Multicultural Arts Victoria; Leanne de Souza, Brisbane-based manager of The Medics; Bob Charter who runs the Blue Mountains Music Festival outside Sydney; Paul Mason, director of music at the Australian Council for the Arts; and Alistair Burns, director of management, booking and publicity company Heartstop Music which manages Jordie Lane and books The Christopher Coleman Collective and Marlon Williams.
Topics to be discussed over the weekend include how to get your foot into the folk scene, where folk organisations can get funding, tips for self-managed musicians, an overview of where the folk industry is heading from folk festival directors, how to run your own event, tips on touring abroad on the folk circuit and a look at new trends in the global scene, and how to run an organization.
There will also be workshops and roundtable discussions, and organisers say, “In true folk-fashion there will be fiddles, beer, tea, merriment and terrible jokes, as well as both established and emerging Australian talent showcased throughout the weekend.”
